Items of Interest The Birthstone for December is Turquoise Turquoise, the robin's egg blue gemstone worn by Pharaohs and Aztec Kings, is probably one of the oldest gemstones known. Yet, only its prized blue color, a color so distinctive that its name is used to describe any color that resembles it, results in its being used as a gemstone. Turquoise has been, since about 200 B.C., extensively used by both southwestern U.S. Native Americans and by many of the Indian tribes in Mexico. The Native American Jewelry or "Indian style" jewelry with turquoise mounted in or with silver is relatively new. Some believe this style of Jewelry was unknown prior to about 1880, when a white trader persuaded a Navajo craftsman to make turquoise and silver jewelry using coin silver. Prior to this time, the Native Americans had made solid turquoise beads, carvings, and inlaid mosaics. Recently, turquoise has found wide acceptance among people of all walks of life and from many different ethnic groups. The name turquoise may have come from the word Turquie, French for Turkey, because of the early belief that the mineral came from that country (the turquoise most likely came from Alimersai Mountain in Persia (now Iran) or the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt, two of the world's oldest known turquoise mining areas.) Another possibility could be the name came from the French description of the gemstone, "pierre turquin" meaning dark blue stone. As a healing stone, Turquoise is among the crystal healing master stones. According to followers of the New Age, its powers can benefit the whole body, with special strengths in healing ailments of the immune, respiratory, waste and skeletal systems. Crystal healers recommend it for detoxification of alcohol, poison, pollution or radiation in the body, treatment of high blood pressure, asthma, infections, TMJ and dental problems. Turquoise is also supposed to be a stone of communication. New Age healers recommend it for people who have a fear of public speaking. They believe it has the ability to make a speaker more eloquent, loving, creative and honest. Iimproves the mental state overall by increasing all of the following positive mental characteristics: serenity, creativity, empathy, positive thinking, sensitivity, intuition, happiness wisdom all of which result in a calmer state that leads to greater self-realization. It is also considered a stone of friendship. As a communication stone, the New Age believers say that it opens up the connections between friends and allowing love to flow in those communications, which strengthens the friendship bond. Further, they believe it has the power to strengthen convictions, courage and personal power. Turquoise is said to open all chakras, allowing the stone’s powers of love and communication to flow through the entire being. However, healers associate it primarily with the Throat or 5th chakra. This Chakra is the center of communication, creativity, serenity and spiritual bonding. Turquoise can also benefit the operation of the Heart Chakra by opening it up for giving and receiving love. On the brow Chakra, it strengthens the connection to great spirit. The blue color has come to symbolizes the spirit or sky source for spiritualists   The Plant for December is Holly   For centuries, holly has been the subject of myths, legends, and traditional observances. The ancient Chinese used Ilex chinensis extensively for decorating during their February New Year festivals. The Romans used the plant to decorate their houses, temples, and deities for Saturnalia, the mid-winter feast. They exchanged holly boughs as symbols of goodwill and friendship. This practice is considered the forerunner of holly's use in Christmas celebrations. Ancient history says that the Druids used holly in their religious rites long before the custom came to the European continent. The Druids of ancient Britain and Gaul held the English holly tree sacred. The "holy" connotation continued in later days in Europe, where the plant was widely believed to repel evil spirits. People planted trees and used their branches as protection against witchcraft, mad dogs, and other evils. Sometime in the past, the pagans of Europe took sprays of holly into their homes so that the tiny, imaginary peoples of the woodland would be safe from the cold of winter in the evergreen boughs. Later, holly was used as holiday decor that gave the good fairies and elves a place to hide as they did their good deeds. With the coming of Christianity, the use of holly was condemned as a pagan ritual and forbidden by the Christian council. But Christian Romans continued to decorate with holly during festive seasons. European Christian symbolism included the belief that the spiny leaves and red berries were a reminder of the crown of thorns and the blood of Christ. The Pennsylvania Dutch held that the plant's white flowers represented Jesus' purity. The Germans called this plant Christdorn, Christ's crown of thorns. They thought holly had white berries until they were stained by Christ's blood. The Welsh believed that bringing holly in before Christmas Eve caused quarrels, while some Germans and English thought that the choice of a male or female bough in the house indicated whether husband or wife would rule during the coming year. (Holly trees come in sexes, like people. The female tree has berries; the male does not.) Some English people thought it was unlucky to leave holly up after Twelfth Night (New Year's Eve) and that the used boughs should be burned. Others felt that the branches should be saved in the home until the following winter to ensure lightning protection. In the same period in Germany, holly that had been used as church decoration was taken home to ward off lightning. In medieval England, holly was kept in the dwelling or on the person as a protection against witchcraft. Europeans also used holly for fortune-telling, adopting various complicated practices for getting information about future spouses and the likelihood of prosperity. In more recent times, holly has been used very commonly in England as decoration during the Christmas season. This custom was brought to the United States by English settlers. The native American holly was one of the first plants sighted by the Pilgrims. American Indians planted strong, evergreen hollies, their symbol of courage and eternal life, around dwellings for protection. They also made the fruits into buttons and used them in trade. Holly is traditionally associated with masculinity and good luck. Now when it decorates the home at Christmas time, this symbol of joy and merriment brings up thoughts of celebration and good cheer. Astrology Signs for December Click The Horscope Symbols To View Today's Horoscope! About Sagittarius (November 21 to December 20) The sign of the archer. They set very high standards and goals for themselves and expect everyone else to live up to them as well. They are very blunt in their speaking and often say hurtful things without meaning to. They constantly need a challenge and thrive on excitement and the unknown. Great travelers and explorers, saggies don't like to be tied down and are not well known for being faithful. Quality: Positive Ruler: Jupiter Triplicity: Mutable Quadruplicity: Fire Traditional Sagittarian Traits Optimistic and freedom-loving Jovial and good-humored Honest and straightforward Intellectual and philosophical On the dark side.... Blindly optimistic and careless Irresponsible and superficial Tactless and restless Likes Traveling Getting to the heart of the matter Freedom Laws and meanings The general 'feel' of things Dislikes Off the wall theories Being tied down domestically Being constrained Cooling your heels Bothered with details About Capricorn (December 21 to January 20) The sign of the sea-goat. Capricorns are very career orientated people. The are ambitious and have opinions about everything. They do sometimes tend to have a bit of a doom and gloom persona, always seeing the down side of things first. Some capricorns are narrow minded in their thinking but only because they want to do what they think is the very best thing to do. Quality: Negative Ruler: Saturn Triplicity: Cardinal Quadruplicity: Earth Fire Traditional Sagittarian Traits Practical and prudent Ambitious and disciplined Patient and careful Humorous and reserved On the dark side.... Pessimistic and fatalistic Miserly and grudging Over conventional and rigid Likes Reliability Professionalism Knowing what you discuss Firm Foundations Purpose Dislikes Wild Schemes Fantasies Go-nowhere jobs Ignominy Ridicule Birthday Corner Main Page Mystickal Realms Main Page   MR Birthday Corner Designed & Maintained by Corvus the Familiar ©2003 & Up All rights reserved Mystickal Realms